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Erath County receives 97.3% coverage report from L3Harris as dispatch center work continues
Summary
L3Harris told Erath County commissioners its drive tests showed roughly 97.3% radio coverage across the county; commissioners approved Amendment No. 4 to the L3Harris agreement and heard a timeline pushing a mid‑to‑late August go‑live for core dispatch services while a few coverage gaps may require additional equipment.
L3Harris representatives updated Erath County Commissioners Court on July 13 about the county’s joint dispatch and radio upgrade, reporting an overall drive‑test result of about 97.3% coverage and saying the system should substantially improve county radio service.
"We actually came in at 97.3," the L3Harris presenter told the court, noting the company’s contract guarantee was 93% and that most accessible areas met or exceeded that threshold. The presenter said a small number of locations registered below the 93% target and described options—including additional tower work or equipment installation—that L3Harris could deploy as needed.
Commissioners approved Amendment No. 4 to the county’s purchase and services agreement with L3Harris after staff and the county’s consultant reviewed wording tied to coverage testing. County staff said the amendment does not change contract cost. The court took the amendment by voice vote with a motion and second recorded in the minutes.
Officials discussed the project timeline: a previous estimate mentioned Aug. 1 as a possible go‑live date, but L3Harris and county staff said that was optimistic; the presenter and deputies expected work to continue into mid‑to‑late August for full operational readiness, with the dispatch center turnover and remaining IT installation described as the remaining items before the system becomes fully operational.
The presentation also reviewed the paired dispatch center build and radio network work; L3Harris staff said the company drove wide areas of the county to compile the coverage report and that, where needed, L3Harris would add infrastructure at its expense in jurisdictions where contractual guarantees were not met. The presenter emphasized improved mobile coverage, saying the upgrade should be “110% better than it is today.”
The court heard questions about specific red‑dot coverage areas, and staff committed to continuing coordination with L3Harris and local fire, EMS and law enforcement to verify remaining gaps before final acceptance. No additional cost commitments were recorded at the meeting; commissioners asked staff for follow‑up briefings as the county moves toward the operational milestone.
The court recessed into executive session later in the agenda and returned with no recorded action related to the L3Harris item; the budget workshop then continued with other departmental presentations.
